Hoposa Daina Hotel

The flagship property of the Hoposa chain, the Daina Hotel has been a landmark on the Port de Pollensa seafront since 1963. While the ground-level facade certainly feels like it belongs on this side of the millennium, the balconied floors above have maintained a vintage, mid-20th century aspect. Glass doors swoosh open to the reception, a modern and slightly sterile space combining abstract artwork, contemporary seating, and chrome accents. Polished black marble stairs and carved wood banisters hint at the hotel's original interiors. 

Just off the lobby a swish bar with hardwood floors and floor-to-ceiling windows looks out over a spacious alfresco patio. Across the adjacent promenade, and unique to the resort, is the hotel's pool terrace wharf dotted with palm trees and built out into the bay. The clientele is mainly couples, mostly from the U.K., and a fair share of families with kids join over the summer months. 

The hotel is located in Majorca's popular resort town of Port de Pollensa, in the northeast of the island at the end of the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range. It overlooks the main seafront promenade that extends the length of the resort town, with numerous bars and restaurants within a short stroll. A block away is the main square, lined with cafes and hosting a weekly market, while the marina and a couple stretches of beach are also just a short walk away. Around a 20-minute drive away is the unspoiled beach of Formentor (Barceló Formentor), and stunning views from the headland beyond. Palma, with its beautiful old town, can be reached in just under an hour by car, while Palma de Mallorca Airport is around the same distance.

Spread over six floors, the hotel's 67 rooms all benefitted from renovations in 2015 and 2016. The results are fresh and bright interiors that combine cheerful teal fabrics with tile floors, simple modern fixtures, and pieces of original heavy wood furniture. Only Single Rooms lack both balconies and sea views; the vast majority of rooms offer at least side views of the bay from furnished balconies. Double Rooms lack sea views, though those on higher floors get mountain vistas. Sixth-floor rooms are smaller, though with larger terraces featuring loungers and the best views. 

Amenities include well-stocked minibars (though no wine or spirits), coffee/tea facilities, and 32-inch flat-screen TVs (with a few U.K.-based channels); Wi-Fi is free and has a reliable connection. While not sold as suites, some rooms have separate lounges with sofa beds and extra TVs. Bathrooms are clean and well-maintained, with wall-mounted hairdryers, generic toiletries, and shower/tub combos or walk-in showers (the hotel plans to continue replacing shower/tub combos with walk-in showers in 2017). While rooms are generally well protected from external disturbance, reports suggest some guest rooms are prone to noise from neighboring rooms.

Still feeling fresh from its 2012 renovations, the monochrome upper-level restaurant is open for breakfast and dinner and extends to a sea-view terrace. A buffet breakfast is always included and comprises a good selection of hot and cold items, plus a live cooking station offering a choice of eggs "al gusto." Buffet dinner is included in half-board rates and always includes a regional dish. The hotel's ground-floor patio offers a decent a la carte menu for snacks and light lunches, while its bar provides twice-weekly shows (live music and flamenco dancing).

A highlight of the hotel is the wharf-style terrace with long saltwater swimming pool complete with separate kiddy section and lined with loungers. Open July and August, the poolside Lemon Bar also provides lounger waiter service to guests, and opens to the public when the pool closes, offering sun-downers, late-night cocktails, and live entertainment. There's also a rather small fitness room (with no windows and just a few machines) and a bicycle room for secure bike storage and repair. Free Wi-Fi covers the whole property, with even some coverage as far as the pool terrace.